The DIG lost his cool while interacting with KP Tiwari, a 75-year-old roadside vendor who was selling plastic products as the latter took time to remove his shop, and slapped him.

Even though Tiwari denied the incident a passer-by recorded the event on his mobile and shared it with a Hindi news channel.

Talking to Hindustan Times over the phone, the ADG said an explanation had been sought from the DIG. He said slapping a common man could not be justified and there were several other ways to deal with encroachers. He added that stern action will be taken against the DIG if he was found guilty. The DIG, however, refused to speak on the issue.

The UP Police were caught in a controversy in September 2015 when images of a sub-inspector smashing a typewriter used by a senior citizen to earn a livelihood on the roadside went viral on social media, prompting chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to order the suspension of the official. Kumar was also getting encroachments removed in Hazratganj.